Rajarajeshwari Nagar pours its woes out

Over 1,000 people turned up on Sunday for the BM Dialogues at BEML Layout (Hemmigepura ward) to meet their elected representatives and officials to get their problems resolved

Rajarajeshwari Nagar to get a command area with network of CCTVs attached to police station

Safety and security have been a big worry for RR Nagar residents. Any crime or a law-and-order issue RR Nagar will henceforth be taken up and monitored by the Kengeri police. Talking at the BM Dialogues, Yeshwanthpur MLA ST Somashekar said a Command and Control Centre would soon be established at Kengeri police station from where cops can monitor live feed 24/7 on a huge, integrated screen.

It has also been decided to install 450 CCTV cameras in and around Kengeri as part of security measures. Cameras will be installed in crowded places, residential areas or around parks where chances of illegal activities and thefts are more. Cameras will further be installed near schools and colleges which come under Kengeri limits to ensure that no drug dealers are in operation. Even youngsters, who are found drinking alcohol on wayside and throw bottles, will also be tracked by officials.

It’s also disclosed that the total amount invested on the project is Rs 1 crore and by January 2019, all cameras will be installed in different junctions.

“There will be three different types of cameras that will be used. Pan-Tilt Zoom (PTZ), Automatical Number Plate Reading (ANPR) and Face Deduction cameras. In addition, Byadarahalli constituency is provided with high-resolution cameras and similar high-powered cameras installed in Kengeri will also be provided by them,” said Somashekar.

During the interaction, a resident of Rajarajeshwari Nagar, Saritha Bhatt, asked what measures the police is taking to bring down crimes. “Many youngsters are found taking drugs, drinking alcohol on roads while thefts and robbery in the locality is a common issue. Citizens no longer feel safe in the locality,” she said at the meet.

Somashekar said, “Months back ago for the safety of every individual in Yeshwantpur, we started an initiative called “Safe Yeshwantpur”. Over 300 CCTV cameras were installed in the Yeshwantpur Constituency. Here too we will take up a similar campaign.”

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Confusion over boundary for many residents

The Rajarajeshwari Nagar has a peculiar problem with most residents getting confused over the boundary as a section of area falls under the Rajarajeshwari Nagar constituency and the other in Yeshwanthpur. Residents said that the border areas of both these constituencies have been neglected.

Umapathi, president of Pattangere Jayanna Okkuta, raised a question on the division of land. He said that earlier there were separate constituencies for Yeshwantpur and Rajarajeshwari Nagar. “After Rajarajeshwari Nagar was brought under Yeshwantpur constituency, there is confusion. RR Nagar further got divided into RR Nagar sub-division and Kengeri sub-division. And the electricity board which was earlier a part of RR Nagar later became a part of Kengeri due to the sub division of localities.
And power has been a major problem in the locality,” said Umapathi.

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Thriving land mafia is a big worry

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Residents of Hemmigepura Ward are worried over land mafia’s grip in the area. Residents said gangs are stalling construction of houses to fleece money. Another issue which came up for discussion was the land certificate (khatha).

A resident said, “A gang is pestering us while we have been trying to construct our house. My husband passed away recently and am really shattered. Now, I am planning to build the house, but the gangs are stalling the project. We have saved money all our life for this and when these kinds of atrocities happen, we really don’t know what to do.”

The resident also said that even after repeated complaints to police, nobody gave them security in their own land. She added, “Whenever I try to lodge a complaint, the police say they will consider it and they promise that the work happens. But the gangs strike again.”

Another woman, who was almost in tears, said: “I have bought a site at RR Layout and a group of people is not allowing us to construct the house. I keep approaching the police, but no action has been taken. We as a family cannot protest or argue with these people and they keep claiming that it is their site and we are not supposed to construct the house.”

MLA Somashekar and corporator Arya Srinivas admitted to the presence of land mafia in BEML and RR Layout.

Somashekar said, “There is a threat from the land madia and we will cut that down as soon as possible. Some are already behind bars and we will ensure that we strengthen the police services here.”

Another resident said, “When will the BBMP stop the mafia of fake or bogus kathas? We are really frustrated why the BBMP has not taken any steps in this? We have the land already and someone else comes and says that they also have the same land. So, there is this bogus mafia and that nothing is moving in a positive direction.”

A resident added, “The joint commissioner of BBMP ward doesn’t attend to these issues at all.”

When Somashekar asked Joint Commissioner Balashekaran to respond, he said, “We have already stopped bogus kathas and are in the process of identifying other bogus certificates.”

Expert speak

BM conducted the event very well. All the issues, be it from BESCOM, BWSSB, BBMP, METRO and crime, were all answered by officials. It is a great platform for citizens. –Rekha, Rajarajeswari Nagar

I have been reading about different BM Dialogues from Whitefield to Begur. I’m glad that it came to RR Nagar, my area. However, we need to see if the issues will get sorted out

– Pramoth, RR Nagar

I have been reading Bangalore Mirror for the last few years and today, I have been happy to take part in BM dialogues as it helps us resolve most of our issues –HS Nagendra , Krishna Garden

Bangalore Mirror Dialogues is not only helpful for residents, but also serves as an opportunity for the officials from every department to understand the problems we face every day–Preetha, RR Nagar

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